Florida Sports Wire

By Mike Bonts (www.jaxsportsday.com)  A four-goal second period was too much for the Greenville Swamp Rabbits to overcome, as they fell 5-4 to the Jacksonville Icemen in Game 5 of the South Division Semifinals on Saturday night at Bon Secours Wellness Arena. Greenville started the game with the opening goal of the game just 4:03 into the first period, as Miles Gendron fed the puck to Nikita Pavlychev who scored his second of the series.  At 8:33, Ben Freeman shot the puck from the wing and beat Jacksonville's Charles Williams for the 2-0 lead. Williams would leave the game after allowing two goals on six shots and was replace with Olof Lindbom. Jacksonville stopped the Swamp Rabbits momentum with a Luke Lynch goal at 15:14. In the second, Craig Martin scored on a breakaway, tying the game for Jacksonville at 4:34. At 6:49, Jacksonville captured the lead as Ara Nazarian scored, before Matt Iacopelli scored 60 second later to extend the Jacksonville lead. Brandon Fortunato scored a

File Sportsday Photo by Jim Brady, Florida Sports Wire JACKSONVILLE (www.sportsdayjax.com) -   Jeff Lindgren worked six scoreless innings and Charles Leblanc hit a grand slam to help lift the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp over the Lehigh Valley IronPigs 8-1 in front of 5,598 fans from 121 Financial Ballpark. Jacksonville (12-12)  put up a pair of runs in the opening frame against Lehigh Valley (12-13) starter T.J. Zeuch (1-2)  to take an early 2-0 lead. Xavier Edwards and Brian Miller notched back-to-back base hits. Then, a double steal, throwing error and a ground out brought home Edwards and Miller for the game’s first runs.   In the fifth inning, Peyton Burdick walked, swiped second and then moved up to third on a throwing error. Jerar Encarnacion sliced a line drive single to bring in Burdick, extending the Jumbo Shrimp lead to 3-0.    Jacksonville blew the game wide open with a five-spot in the sixth inning. Austin Allen led off the sixth with a single and advanced to second on a wild

TALLAHASSEE  – Florida State defensive back Jammie Robinson was selected in the fifth round of the 2023 NFL Draft by the Carolina Panthers with the 145th overall pick on Saturday. Robinson’s selection extends Florida State’s streak to 40 consecutive NFL Drafts with at least one player picked.  That streak, which began in 1984, is the eighth-longest active streak in the nation. Florida State now has 294 NFL Draft picks in its history, including 203 during the 40-year streak, and Robinson is the 35th FSU defensive back drafted in the last 36 years.   Robinson was a back-to-back first-team All-ACC selection, Florida State’s first defender to earn consecutive first-team All-ACC honors since Jalen Ramsey in 2014-15, in both of his seasons after transferring into the program for the 2021 season. He started 24 of 25 games played at FSU, totaling 183 tackles, including 12.0 for loss with 1.0 sack, five interceptions, eight pass breakups, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery. He led the t

Cam Smith By Mike Bonts MIAMI (Florida Sports Wire)  - The Miami .Dolphins selected South Carolina cornerback Cam Smith in the second round with the 51st overall pick. Smith is the earliest defensive back drafted by the Dolphins since S Jevon Holland was picked 36th overall in the 2021 NFL Draft. The last two defensive backs Miami has selected in the second round of the draft are Holland and Xavien Howard, who was picked 38th overall in the 2016 NFL Draft. Smith is the sixth Gamecock selected by Miami in the draft and the first since 2003. The last three South Carolina draft picks by the Dolphins are all defensive backs. The Dolphins selected Texas A&M  running back von Achane in the third round with the 84th overall pick. Achane is the first Dolphins running back selected in the third round or earlier since RB Kenyan Drake was a third-round selection (73rd overall) in the 2016 NFL Draft. This marks the first time the Dolphins have drafted a running back from Texas A&M. Achane

 JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Peyton Burdick blasted his ninth homer of the season as the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp defeated the Lehigh Valley IronPigs 6-1 in their rain-shortened contest Thursday night at 121 Financial Ballpark.  The Jumbo Shrimp (11-11) saw their offensive scoreless inning streak come to an end at 15 when they plated three runs in the bottom of the second.  Down 1-0, Jerar Encarnacion led off with a walk and went to second two batters later when Charles Leblanc worked another free pass against IronPigs (11-12) starter Michael Plassmeyer (L, 0-2). In the ensuing at-bat, Jacob Amaya knocked a single, scoring Encarnacion to tie the game at one.  Leblanc advanced to second and then scored the go-ahead run when Jake Mangum reached on an error. With runners on second and third, Santiago Chavez walked to load the bases and Xavier Edwards then walked with the bases loaded, bringing in the third run of the inning. Jacksonville padded their lead in the bottom of the third. Encarnacio

Todd Dagenais the winningest all-time UCF volleyball coach over the past 15 seasons and architect of five consecutive American Athletic Conference volleyball titles from 2018-22 as well as consistently strong academic performances by his teams, announced his resignation at the end of the spring season to pursue a professional sports opportunity.  UCF associate head coach Jenny Maurer will serve as acting head coach. “These past 15 years have been an indescribable privilege to work with so many special women that have come through our program,” said Dagenais. “An entire group of highly successful and decorated former volleyball players is making a difference in the world. I’m grateful to have been supported by Jenny Maurer and Brian Doyon over the past several years--each providing the continuity necessary to compete on the national stage. There will never be enough words to thank all the former coaches, managers and support staff that allowed our program to be the best it can be. Thank

 KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson was drafted fourth overall in the 2023 NFL Draft by the Indianapolis Colts on Thursday night.  The pick tied for the second-highest Gator to be drafted, joining Kyle Pitts in 2021. Richardson was a three-year member of the Gators and started all 12 regular-season games last year. He played in 24 career games with 13 starts and totaled 3,105 passing yards with 24 passing touchdowns on 215 completions.  An All-SEC Freshman Team selection in 2021, he ran for a career 1,116 yards and 12 scores on the ground. He started off the season opener last season leading the Gators to a victory over No. 7 Utah with a career-high three rushing touchdowns and earned SEC Offensive Player of the Week and Davey O'Brien Award Quarterback of the Week accolades. Of his 36 career scores, he had seven scores of 70-plus, 14 scores of 40-plus and 16 of 25-plus yards.  Richardson ran for three touchdowns of 70-plus, four of 60-plus and five of 45 yard

 ST. AUGUSTINE – The Flagler College golf teams received a special donation from the Ringhaver family. Flagler College Trustee Emeritus Randy Ringhaver was on hand, along with the entire women's golf team and coaches, for the unveiling of a set of beautifully framed clubs that were used by the late Elaine Ringhaver Riddle.  The clubs are now prominently displayed in the new Flagler College Golf room. "We are very fortunate to have the Ringhaver family as long-time supporters of the Flagler golf program," said Santiago Cavanagh, the College's director of golf. In 2013, Mr. Ringhaver endowed a scholarship for the women's golf program in the name of his mother Elaine Ringhaver Riggle, who played golf in St. Augustine for many years and the family lived in a residence adjacent the grounds of Flagler College. Ringhaver recently retired from his position on the College's Board of Trustees after many years of service as a member and former chairman of the Board. His

GAINESVILLE, Fla. - After topping Vanderbilt 22-6 on Saturday, two Gators earned American Athletic Conference honors, the league announced Monday. Emma LoPinto and Danielle Pavinelli were each tabbed to the AAC Honor Roll heading into the final week of the regular season. That is LoPinto's 10th weekly honor this season, while Pavinelli picked up her first accolade of the 2023 campaign. LoPinto - the sophomore attacker - posted six points against Vanderbilt, registering three goals and three assists in the victory. She went 3-of-5 from the field, along with causing one turnover and picking up one groundball. The Manhasset, N.Y. native currently ranks in the Top-10 in the AAC in the following categories: points per game (2nd | 4.47), goals per game (3rd | 3.07), assists per game (4th | 1.40), shots per game (6th | 5.40). Pavinelli - the junior attacker - tallied a season-high six points against the Commodores, coming from four goals and two assists. Her four goals tied her season-hig

ATLANTA - Jacksonville University men's golf redshirt junior Alexandre Vandermoten was named to the ASUN All-Conference Third Team on Monday, as announced by the league office. The native of Baillargues, France made an all-conference team for the second-straight year, one of five players on the team this year to have made multiple all-conference squads. He led the team in multiple statistical scoring categories this season. His 72.20 stroke average was the best amongst JU players, and he also recorded the most rounds in the 60s, with seven total. His compiled 14 rounds of par-or-better and 30 of his rounds have counted towards the total team score. His best finish of the season was a T5 at The Southern Invitational, helping the Dolphins capture the team championship that week. His low 18-hole score was a 64, which he shot in the final round of the Streamsong Invitational to open the season. He was an All-Conference Second Team member last season, and made the All-Freshman Team in

The Gator Bowl Sports Board of Trustees recently elected its 2023-24 volunteer leadership including  Chairman, Officers and Advisory Board during its March quarterly meeting. Alan Worley, President & CEO of Money Pages and 3D Digital, was elected as Chairman for the 2023-24 season. He is a  local entrepreneur who founded Money Pages, a multimedia company, in 2001 and has grown it into a multi-milliondollar company. The company, through franchising, is now published in six states. Additionally, Worley began 3D  Digital in 2014, a full-service digital agency that provides cutting edge digital marketing and technology to both  customers and franchisees. Chairman Worley joins the impressive ranks of the Gator Bowl Board of Trustees after serving in a variety of volunteer  roles with Gator Bowl Sports since 2009.  Through his tenure with Gator Bowl Sports, Worley has worked diligently to  grow Gator Bowl Charities impact and awareness while leveraging his company’s resources to help ex

The Jacksonville Sharks defeated the Fayetteville Mustangs on the road 73-53. The Sharks offense was led by the duo of QB Conor Blount and WR Kamrin Solomon racking up 36 of the Sharks 73 points.  Newly signed Sharks kicker Kevin Didio-Weber made quite the first impression hitting one deuce and two rouge points. Defensively, the Sharks put a stop to Fayetteville’s high power offense, holding Mustang QB Rakeem Cato to only five touchdown passes and 175 yards.  Anthony Johnson started the game off with a bang scoring the first of two rushing touchdowns less than three minutes into the first quarter. Fayetteville responded back quickly putting up their first touchdown in three possessions.The score went back and forth for the remainder of the quarter and ended with the Sharks up 20 to 19.  The second quarter started with a Sharks touchdown and ended with a Mustang touchdown in the last second of the half, tying the game at 34. The Chess match continued into the third quarter. However, the

ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. - A drama-filled finals rematch resulted in the Florida men's golf team being crowned the 2023 SEC Champions on Sunday at Sea Island Golf Club. The match came all the way down to the 18th hole. It was last year's hero that had another memorable moment on 18-green.  After John DuBois fired his approach shot right of the green and on the fringe, his opponent Reid Davenport landed in front of the green. Both were exactly 26 feet from the hole. DuBois added to the intensity of the finals as he brought the match all tied up on 16 after being down as many as 3-up on three occasions, including being three behind with seven holes left. He knocked his third shot 15 feet of the cup. Last year's SEC Individual Champion, was clutch in the moment again and nailed the par putt for the eventual match clinching point as his opponent missed his to force extra holes. Florida grabbed two early points with 5&4 wins from Matthew Kress and Ricky Castillo. Kress, who w

COLUMBIA, S.C– No. 3 Florida battled for nine innings but ultimately dropped game three to No. 6 South Carolina by a score of 7-5 at Founders Park on Saturday afternoon. The Gamecocks (34-6, 13-4 SEC) jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first on a two-run homer to left field by Braylen Wimmer. Cade Kurland quickly got one back for the Gators (31-10, 11-7 SEC), blasting a long home run to right-center field to cut the deficit to one run. South Carolina regained a two-run lead in the second. Wimmer produced an RBI groundout to shortstop to bring home Will Tippett. Ethan Petry later added a two-run double in the fourth to make it 5-1. In the top of the fifth, Kurland gave the Orange & Blue another boost. Hitting it to nearly the same location as his first, the freshman uncorked a solo shot to right-center field for his second homer of the game and 12th of the campaign. The Gamecocks quickly got the run back, using a Jonathan French RBI single to center to push the score to 6-2 in the bot

STATESBORO - Four interceptions, including an 80-yard "Pick 7" on the final play of the game, lifted Team Blue to a 43-19 victory over Team White Saturday in the Georgia Southern Spring Football Game, presented by Morris Bank, Southern Exchange, and Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport. In a format where both the offense and defense could score based on a point system, Team White scored the first points on a 22-yard field goal from Michael Lantz. Davis Brin connected with tight end Keaton Upshaw on a 9-yard scoring pass.  In the second quarter, Colton FitzGerald hit DeAndre Buchannon in the back of the end zone for a 26-yard scoring play. The first half ended on a 34-yard field from Brendan Franke. Team Blue scored points in the first half with three three-and-outs (3 points each), an interception from Kevin Speed (5 points), two sacks (1 point each), a failed PAT (1 point) and two stops with no scores (2 points each). In the second half, Team Blue scored all of the po

  The NFL confirmed today that three players have been indefinitely suspended for violating the league's gambling policy. Two other players were each suspended six games. Quintez Cephus and C.J. Moore of the Detroit Lions, and Shaka Toney of the Washington Commanders, are suspended indefinitely through at least the conclusion of the 2023 season for betting on NFL games in the 2022 season. These players may petition for reinstatement at the conclusion of the 2023 season. Stanley Berryhill and Jameson Williams of the Lions are suspended for the team's first six regular season games of the 2023 season. These players are eligible to participate in all offseason and preseason activities, including preseason games. The suspensions will take effect at the roster reduction to 53 players. The gambling policy, which is annually reviewed with all NFL personnel, including players, prohibits anyone in the NFL from engaging in any form of gambling in any club or league facility or venue, inc

  ST. AUGUSTINE – Flagler College women's soccer will host an ID camp this summer, Aug. 4-5, at Saints Field at the Flagler Field Athletics Complex. The camp is open to high school players ranging from freshman (grade 9) and up. A goalkeeper session will get things started at 5 p.m. on Aug. 4. There will be 11 vs. 11 scrimmages from 6-8 p.m. following that session. On Aug. 5, there is a technical session from 9:30-11:30 a.m. followed by a lunch break. After lunch, small-sided games will take place from 1-2 p.m. To wrap up the camp, a question and answer session with the Flagler team will be from 2-2:30 p.m. Limited spots are available. The camp fee is $260, which includes both days and a Flagler T-shirt. Meals and lodging ARE NOT provided. Please click here for more information and the registration form or contact Conchi Sanchez Recuero at (904) 827-3941 or email her at  CSanchezrecuero952@flagler.edu .

  NEW YORK (April 21, 2023)  – The National Hockey League today announced the following updates to the 2023  Stanley Cup Playoffs  First Round schedule: Tuesday, April 25   The start time of the potential Game 5 of the First Round series between the New York  Islanders  and Carolina  Hurricanes  is set for 7 p.m. ET on Tuesday, April 25, in Raleigh. The game would be televised on ESPN in the U.S. Canadian national broadcast information will be announced when it is finalized.   The start time and national broadcast information for Game 5 of the First Round series between the Minnesota  Wild  and Dallas  Stars , scheduled for Tuesday, April 25, in Dallas, and for Game 5 of the First Round series between the Los Angeles  Kings  and Edmonton  Oilers , scheduled for Tuesday, April 25, in Edmonton, will be announced when available.   Wednesday, April 26 The start time of Game 5 of the First Round series between the Florida  Panthers  and Boston  Bruins  is set for 7 p.m. ET on Wednesday, Apr

JACKSONVILLE - Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp starter Bryan Hoeing tossed five scoreless frames, but the Nashville Sounds rallied back in the ninth Thursday to take game three of the series in front of 5,025 fans at 121 Financial Ballpark, 3-1.   Nashville (9-9) rallied in the ninth inning against Jacksonville (9-8) reliever Dylan Bice (0-1). Keston Hiura reached first on a fielding error to begin the inning. Two batters later, Abraham Toro singled, putting runners on the corners with one out. Alex Jackson (4) then demolished a home run to left, giving Nashville a 3-1 advantage.  Bennett Sousa (1-0) worked a 1-2-3 ninth to seal the win for the Sounds. Jacksonville picked up the game’s first run in the sixth inning after Xavier Edwards tripled with one out and C.J. Hinojosa sharply singled to score Edwards and give the Jumbo Shrimp a 1-0 lead. Hoeing fanned seven against one walk in 5.0 innings, scattering a pair of hits. Jake Walters pitched 1.2 scoreless innings and then Anthony Maldonado

  BOCA RATON, Fla. —  The 17 th -ranked University of Miami baseball team was walked off by FAU in the 11 th  inning, falling to the Owls, 7-6, Wednesday evening. “I can’t recall too many great at-bats with runners on base and runners in scoring position,” Miami head coach Gino DiMare said. “We didn’t get the at-bats we needed to be successful. We have to bear down and give great at-bats in those situations.”   Despite outhitting FAU (23-15), Miami (23-14) couldn’t come through with the crucial knock in the late innings.    With the bases loaded in the top of the 11 th , Miami first baseman CJ Kayfus darted home on a ball in the dirt to push the visitors in front, 6-5.   But FAU reliever Nicholas Del Prado (4-1) held the Hurricanes right there, stranding a pair of runners.   In the bottom half, the first four Owls reached safely to tie the game, 6-6.   Following a full-count strikeout, FAU drew a free pass to complete its extra-inning win.   “We’re pretty shorthanded,” DiMare said. “We

  PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Florida  – The  PGA  TOUR announced today that Lee Smith has been named Executive Director of THE PLAYERS Championship and replaces Jared Rice, who has taken a new role leading business development for the TOUR’s Championship Management portfolio of events.   Smith comes to THE PLAYERS Championship after spending the last five years as General Manager at Liberty National Golf Club in Jersey City, New Jersey, where he was instrumental in helping the  PGA  TOUR contest THE NORTHERN TRUST in 2019 and 2021. While overseeing an onsite staff of nearly 150 team members at the club, he secured the LPGA Tour’s Mizuho Americas Open, which will debut at Liberty National in June. Since 2008, Smith has been a key member of the TPC Network, serving as Head Golf Professional at TPC Sugarloaf outside Atlanta; General Manager of TPC Summerlin in Las Vegas; and Regional Director of Operations for TPC Networks, a role he held concurrently with his position at Liberty National. He has